Latch.



Patented Apr. 29, 1902.

T. C. HAMILTON.

L A T G H (Application filed June..29', 1901'.)

(No Model.)

"0.. WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES FFICE.

THOMAS C. HAMILTON, OF BOKES CREEK, OHIO.

LATCH.

SPEGIFICATIQN forming art Of Letters Patent NO. 698,940, dated April 29,1902. Application filed June 29; 1901. Serial No. 66,577. (No model.)

To all 1071.077 it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bokes Creek, in the county of Union and State of Ohio, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Latches, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in latchesfor swinging gates; and it has for its object, among others, to providea simple, cheap, and durable latch which shall be automatic in itsaction, being moved by the closing of the gate and automatically fallinginto position to lock the latter. I so hang the gate that as it swingsopen the outer or free end will rise from the ground about two feet,more or less, so that when open for vehicles to pass through it will notsag, and rising, as it does, it will readily pass over snow-drifts orother obstructions without injury to the gate, and when the gate isclosed it automatically swings into its horizontal position, and anextended bar or other projection thereon engages the latch to lift it,and the latch then automatically falls into position to lock the gateagainst opening. The latch I preferably construct of wood, and but asingle bolt is required, which is employed for pivoting the latch to thelatch-board, which is affixed to latch-post. It is positive in itsaction, automatically assumes a position to be engaged by the projectionon the gate, and is not liable to injury by passing vehicles. The gateis so disposed with relation to the latch and the latch-post that thegate will clear the latch-board as the former is swung on its hinges.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the numerals marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a gateequipped with my improved latch, the gate being shown in its closedposition. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the latch and latch-post, with thecooperating projection on the gate shown in vertical section; Fig. 3, aview in side elevation showing the latch end of the gate.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the diiferent views.

In the drawings, 1 designates a gate of any Well-known or approved formof construction, except as hereinafter specified.

In hanging the gate I place the pintle 2 of the upper hinge and thepintle 3 of the lower hinge out of vertical plane, that of the upperhinge being placed, say, an inch and threequarters, more or less, to oneside of the vertical line and the pintle of the lower hinge about thesame distance upon the other side of said line, as seen in Fig. 1. It isto be understood that the pintle of the upper hinge is arranged towardthe side of the post 4 nearest the latch-post, so that as the gatebegins to swing open its free end will rise from the ground, so that thegate never sags, and facilitates the passing of the gate over snowdriftsor other obstructions. On the other hand, when the gate is swung to itautomatically assumes its level position in a manner which is wellunderstood in this art.

5 is a latch-post, and 6 is a latch-board secured in substantiallyhorizontal position to the inner face of the same and adapted to projectthrough rails of the gate adjacent the end batten, as seen clearly inthe figures of the drawings.

7 is a latch, which I preferably construct of a single piece of suitablewood, and this is pivoted by suitable pivot 8 to the extended end of thelatch-board. This latch is provided with an inclined under face 9, asseen more clearlyin Fig. 2, and a substantially straight face 10,extending practically at right angles to the upper face of the latch, asis also seen clearly in Fig. 2. By reason of this exten sion I amenabled to somewhat lessen the length of the gate, so that it willreadily swing past the latch-post, and is not in danger of engagementwith the same or with the latch-board in the movement of the gate.

The operation will be apparent. In the positions of the latch shown inFigs. 1 and 2 the gate is locked and held against all tendency to openuntil the latch is raised. The latch being raised, the gate may beopened, and as it begins to swing open its free end is raised from theground, it being my intention to so dispose the hinges in the mannerabove described that when the gate is open its free end will be abouttwo feet from the-ground. As the gate is swung to after passing apredetermined point it will automatically close, and as one of the rails11 comes in contact with the under side of the latch it will move thesame upward upon its pivot, riding upon the inclined face 9 of saidlatch until therail passes the end of the same, when the latchautomatically falls and said rail is engaged in the notch or angle, asindicated, and the straight face 10 of the latch prevents movement ofthe gate in the opposite direction and the gate is securely fastened.

The advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated and thecheapness and efficiency of the latch will recommend its adoption by thefarmers throughout the country, as well as others, and in all positionswhere a self-closing and selfdocking gate is desired.

The latch-board 6 is provided with a beveled forward end, and theopposite end is connected to the post 5 by means of a brace, as shown.When the gate is closed, one of its bars swings over the board 6 and thesame serves to support the gate and in a measure relieve the hinges.This construction is especially advantageous where the gate is ofconsiderable length.

As shown in the drawings, the latch is provided with an arm which isadapted to extend through the closed gate and retard the downwardmovement of the latch. This arm serves as a convenient means for raisingthe latch from the inner side of the gate.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

- The combination with a hinged gate having horizontal rails, of a post,a horizontal strip secured thereto, and extending from opposite sidesthereof, a beveled end to the strip, a brace connecting the opposite endto the post, said strip being adapted to project through the closed gateat a point between its ends and partlysupport the same, a latchpivotally mounted upon the strip adjacent to the beveled end thereof, aninclined face thereto, an end to the latch adapted to automaticallyengage one of the rails of the gate when closed, and a handle extendinglongitudinally from the end of the latch and adapted to project throughthe gate and limit the downward movement of the latch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS C. HAMILTON. WVitnessesi I. N. JOHNSON, N. W. Rants.

